Safety bar for automobiles



' Nov. 25, 1941. J. A. HODGSON SAFETY BAR FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed May 10,1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor James flifi oafjaoh/ Att orney Nov. 25, 1941. J. A. HODGSON SAFETY BAR FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Ma 10, 1941 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 firms-$4 270% l @m Attorney Patented Nov. 25, 1941 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY BAR ron AUTOMOBILES James A. Hodgson, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 10, 1941, Serial No. 392,957

' 1 Claim. (01. 280-150) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safe y appliances for automobiles and more particularly to a safety bar. for

interposition between the side walls of an automobile body so as to prevent occupants and especially children from tumbling off of a seat when the driver is forced to make a quick stop.

The principal object of the present invention "is to provide a safety appliance of the character stated which can be readily set up in an automobile without modification of the automobile construction.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a safety appliance of the character stated which can be readily installed and removed'with a minimum amount of effort.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the rear passenger compartment of an automobile showing the safety bar installed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure- 3 is 'a longitudinal sectional view through the safety bar.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3. l I

Figure 5 is. an end elevational view looking at the turn section.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the perforated tube.

4 Referring to the drawings,wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 generally refers to an automobile body having side walls 6, 6 between which a seat structure generally referred to by numeral 1 is located and between which and over the seat structure the present safety appliance generally referred to by numeral 8 is installed.

This appliance 8 consists of a pair of end plates 9, In which press against the inner sides of the side walls 6, 6 when the appliance is properly installed. The plate 9 has a threaded socket H for receiving the threaded end of an elongated tube [2, the outer end of which has a collar or the like I3 welded or otherwise fixed thereto. This end of the tube l2 and the collar I3 has a threaded bore therethrough for accommodating a. pointed and threaded element I having a winged head l5. v The foregoing structure represents one unit of the appliance. The

second unit consists of an elongated tube l6 having an elongated threaded portion I! for threaded engagement in an elongated internally threaded barrel l8 which has a radially dis- 1 posed plate or disk l9 at its end opposed to the plate Ill. The plates l9 and H) are swivelly connected together by a pin or thelike 20 and the opposed faces of these plates l9 and III are grooved to accommodate ball-bearings or the like 2|. Hand engageable webs 22 extend radially from the barrel 18' and substantially from one end of the barrel to merge with the plate I9.

This tube I6 has 'the major portion of its the tube I6. The tubes l2 and I6 can now be extended until the plates 9 and 10 are engaging the walls 6, 6. The entire apparatus can now be lifted to the desired height so that childrens legs can pass thereunder and over the edge portion of the seat 1. When the proper elevation of the appliance is determined, the head 15 of the screw I4 can be turned downwardly to pass into the desired opening 23 to fix the approximate length of the appliance. After this, the operator starts turning the barrel l8 by the web 22 resulting in a further extension of the appliance and the clamping of the plates 9 and I0 against the inner sides of the side 6, 6.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventlon as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A safety appliance-for automobiles of the nature described comprising a pair of pressure plates, a tube extending from one of the pressure plates, a telescopic tube adjustably connected with the first-mentioned tube and provided with a threaded outer end portion, a nut on the threaded outer end portion of the second-named tube, a third plate carried by the nut, a swivelled connection between the plate on the nut and the remaining plate, and hand engageable means extending from the nut carried plate to the nut proper to facilitate turning of the nut.

JAMES A. HODGSON. 

